"Oh, yeah. For thousands of years." Hyperdrives were a basic technology, really. It was safely navigating it that was a little more tricky.

Peace keeping and research. Making contact. It sounds so strange, to not have large portions of the galaxy mapped and accessible. In a way, less understandable than those who haven't reached space yet. He can grasp that, has seen those cultures. But this is different. "Why hide that you're helping them? Why not just do it? And what do you mean, greater purpose for flying?"